Really no benefit to stay "on Property" anymore

[maxiesmom]

Just to put this out there, Disney hasn't yet officially announced that the PPCtF Parade will be ending next month, but how can they have a parade without any performers in it? Disney generally does not "announce" these kind of things, they just let them happen. The same thing happened with the PMEMH reduction; Disney never officially "announced" that they were reducing PMEMH, they just updated the calendars.

But you did find notice of both the shortening of EMH and the PPCTF parade, didn't you? Where has anyone seen a memo or news article about the cancelling of all EMHs? No one has.

I'm not saying it won't happen in the future. But as of now, there is no mention of it happening anywhere, except for people guessing that it will. It isn't a given.

 

[andyman8]

But you did find notice of both the shortening of EMH and the PPCTF parade, didn't you? Where has anyone seen a memo or news article about the cancelling of all EMHs? No one has.

I'm not saying it won't happen in the future. But as of now, there is no mention of it happening anywhere, except for people guessing that it will. It isn't a given.

While there were memos released right before these changes went into effect, it will still be quite awhile until EMH is reduced significantly. For now, though, all indications seem to indicate that EMH will be slowly reduced and I'm not the only who thinks it (just ask all the other "Disney bloggers").

 

[DznyCrzy11]

They are taking away all the perks of staying at a Disney hotel. It's not worth paying the extra $$$$. Stay off site, and extend your vacation.

I have to disagree with this. My DH and I fly into MCO so it's very convenient for us to use DME from airport to resort and resort to airport. We rarely take advantage of EMH but we do like the convenience of going back to the resort in the afternoon without finding the car and driving to where ever we are staying. So our biggest reason for staying onsite is convenience.

Sent from my GalaxyS II

 

[Jennasis]

Staying onsite or offsite is a personal decision you base on your needs/preferences. Staying onsite is worth what it's worth to some people and not to others. We prefer to be in the middle of the magic. Have stayed offsite many times and for us it isn't the same. Since we can't vacation very often anyway, it's worth it to us to save our pennies and spend them onsite.

I have family members who LOVE offsite. It works for them.

As for customer service, in my experience (and ONLY in my experience) I have had nothing but FANTASTIC and enthusiastic customer service onsite. Offsite I have dealt with attitudes and the run around. Maybe I've been lucky...or others have been unlucky...but as long as it continues this way for me, it is worth it to spend my money at Disney resorts.

So, OP, for us, the benefit of staying onsite is being onsite and in the middle of the magic. That "perk" is worth the money for us.

 

[DebbieB]

Maybe you should try Disneyland. They offer no free ride to the hotels, I think it cost $16, they offer no dining plan, they offer emh but they give them to anyone who buys a ticket, the offer no free bus service to the park, but they do offer a monorail ride, but in the morning 50% of the time it is closed and you have to walk and coming back between 8 and 10 at night it is always closed. They have lost our packages every time we have asked for that service and we had to show the receipts and have them sent over to our room three days later. Am I missing anything, oh yeah the best part, you can actually walk to the main gate and save $200 a night if you book across the street at a non Disney hotel. I am always surprised that there hotels are booked solid, we only stay there when the military has a really good rate or Expedia has a really good rate for $100 a less. That has not happened in several years now.

They do have a dining plan but it's not the same as WDW. There's no bus service to the parks from the DL hotels because they are within walking distance. You can walk right out of GCH into DCA.

I don't get the "no benefit" to on property at WDW. I stayed at BLT 2 weeks ago, walked right to MK, monorail to Epcot. My next stay is BWV, boat or walk to Epcot and DHS. That's huge. You can't do that from an off property hotel. No way I want to hassle with transportation from off property.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

One more from me...


Disney costumer service..
DH and I have stayed in many non-disney hotels and every time we do. We are disappointed..
I don't know what we are expecting, since we know its NOT disney.. But we are just spoiled I guess..

What types of costume help do they give guests,

If you mean customer service, many non-Disney hotels have fantastic customer service, especially if you are an elite rewards program member.

 

[minnie mum]

Of course everyone has their own perception of what something is worth- how could it be otherwise? For us it is a lot of the intangibles that are the deciding factor in selecting a place to stay when we visit WDW. We've stayed both onsite and off, and MUCH prefer staying onsite.

It doesn't just come down to dollars and cents (for us). Some times we drive. Other times we fly. Love being able to use DME and not having to get a rental car when we fly in. And even when we have our own car, we leave the driving to Disney 99% of the time. I love walking out to the bus stop early in the morning and arriving at our chosen park just about the same time as my eyes start focusing and I really wake up.

We occasionally use the EMHs, but only if it's convenient- it's not really a selling point for us. Who knows what the current EMH's will morph into over time? I'm one of the one's who will just wait and see what happens. I see no point in dwelling on all of the possibilities now- things will change or they won't. We'll like them or we won't.

We don't use the dining plans- they aren't a value for us, so aren't a deciding factor either.

Yes, many of the offsite deluxe hotels are very lovely. Cheaper. Good customer service. Decent food. But they just don't have that special feeling you get at the Disney resorts. And it's that unquantifiable "something magic" that is the deciding point for us- we'll keep staying onsite as long as we keep feeling it.

 

[Minnesota!]

Magical Express and Disney busses are enough for me to pay to stay onsite. And "the bubble". I go to WDW to escape real life.

If they did away with Magical Express and the park transportation, I would stay off site. But if they continue to provide both of those services - everything else is golden, IMO. I will gladly pay to stay onsite.

 

[Sue M]

Interesting that the OP hasn't responded to any replies of his/her post

 

[Tekneek]

Depending on the parks you want to visit, and the place you're staying, there are some that are some off-property choices that put you a lot closer to the parks than on-property selections.

For people who like to book "vacation packages", booked with things like dining plans, and "stay on the resort", Disney will probably always get that business and those people will probably always find it competitive with the other "vacation packages" they book elsewhere in the country. For people who are looking at the money, and for whom these other resort vacation packages aren't a comparison, the equation is continuing to disfavor Disney more and more.

The truth is that my kids have a blast at the family lake house, and we don't have to spend anything on lodging or recreation (short of fueling up the boat once a week). Disney prices were much more reasonable 10 years ago that we felt like going more often and felt like the value proposition was there. This began to unravel about 6 years ago or so, when increases at WDW started at twice the inflation rate.

 

[The Fox Menagerie]

Yes, we agree it's about the "bubble"!

 

[fla4fun]

There really isn't a correct answer to the off property/on property question. It's different for every family and it's different for each family from trip to trip. Whether you're staying off property because you think it's a better value for your money, or staying on property for the convenience (transportation, dining plan, whatever) - only you know what works best for you.

Me? I'm an on property person all the way. For me, off property would just be doing a day trip from home - which I do from time to time. But I like the full 24/7 Disney experience much more, so I spend 3-4 weeks there every year. Sometimes it's at a value to save money, sometimes it's a deluxe or DVC to splurge, but I just enjoy the total Disney experience, and the fact that it doesn't stop when I exit the parks.

I've been going to WDW since it opened, and staying on property since 1982. I've seen perks for resort guests come and go. If they get rid of one thing, there will be something else around the corner.

 

[tracey1302]

We stayed at CBR for the first time in 2007 and now wouldn't even contemplate staying off site.

The transportation system is fantastic. I love how you can just hop on a bus and be where you need to be in like 10 minutes. I love how when you're going back to your resort, it says, 'You'll be home soon.'

The dining plan made our holiday the last time we went - it's fantastic being able to eat at fantastic restaurants every night and continue to be still 'in the magic.'


And the ambiance of Disney resorts is just

I love that there's a Disney shop

 

[WaDiWo]

They are taking away all the perks of staying at a Disney hotel. It's not worth paying the extra $$$$. Stay off site, and extend your vacation.

Ok, where's the OP? 12 pages of discussion and he/she hasn't responded even once to explain his/her position? All opinions are valid, ould just be nice to have the OP participate as well. For me, staying onsite and paying a premium for the intangible "Magic" and theming is worth it.

 

[roydavid7771]

I seriously doubt the OP was even remotely interested in starting a conversation since he gave no supporting evidence to support his claim. That being said, I know that there are more than a few people who would agree with him, but not me!

 

[Tekneek]

I disagree with the OP that there is "no value" at all to staying on property. I do think the value presented from staying on property is declining over time (and expect it to continue to do so). For instance, the DDP may still have some value to certain people/circumstances, but most people who get it continue to do it out of habit, or convenience, while the actual value for the dollar is not there any longer.

However, people decide "value" based on many factors and what you get for each dollar isn't always the priority.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I think it all boils down to budget. Rack rates for the onsite resorts are going up like everything else. There is a lot of competition at the off-site resorts and that is where the deals will be. However, places like Bonnet Creek are now charging for transportation to and back from the parks, per day, per person. It is still free for onsite guests. So start adding up these changes, the gap starts to lesson.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

They are taking away all the perks of staying at a Disney hotel. It's not worth paying the extra $$$$. Stay off site, and extend your vacation.

Anyone that follows your advice when you give absolutely NOTHING to back it up, means nothing!

We have stayed on site, went off site on one trip and will never go off site again. And I'll actually tell people WHY WE LOVE on site.

1. Magical express
2. Disney transportation. We have had some minor issues in the multitude times we used Disney transportation, but still well worth it. Read below why
3. Theming
4. Cast Members
5. Dining - something for everyone
6. Landscaping: absolutely gorgeous, from the beaches, to fountains, to trees and shrubs, camping depending on your many choices that you choose from.
7. NO traffic back-ups to and from the parks from road construction to back-ups at lights to accidents.
8. Not having to deal with parking, and using the panic button to find your car
9. The only noise you hear outside your room/building is the sound of nature or the Disney carts, NOT road traffic.
10. Pool selection is very important to some guests. From best pool for small children, to zero entry, to water slides, and best pool bar to drink at. And the clown that scares some people away from that resort.

And more, but I'll stop now!

 

[xipotec]

How about just not having to deal with the complete tourist nightmare Orlando is? I really beginning to dislike Orlando, and specifically the International drive area.
Traffic, people who are there really so not like tourists, unless its their job too.
Noise, trash, people vacationing in a non-family friendly way.

Many nice hotels , which i have stayed at, but after you leave to eat or go somewhere, its like the daily grind for us Dad's

WDW is an immersive experience, i never feel the grind at WDW deluxe resorts.

This is similar at many all inclusive resorts i have been lucky to stay at.

 

[LSchrow]

How about just not having to deal with the complete tourist nightmare Orlando is? I really beginning to dislike Orlando, and specifically the International drive area.
Traffic, people who are there really so not like tourists, unless its their job too.
Noise, trash, people vacationing in a non-family friendly way.

Many nice hotels , which i have stayed at, but after you leave to eat or go somewhere, its like the daily grind for us
WDW is an immersive experience, i never feel the grind at WDW deluxe resorts.

This is similar at many all inclusive resorts i have been lucky to stay at.

as above
staying off-site is like staying home and looking at photos of vacations. then again, we would have no desire to go to, say....scotland (beautiful country) and stay in some modern highrise in a neighboring city. or visit
NYC, and stay in some you-could-be-anywhere-except-the-actual-vacation-destination hotel in NJ.

our time and money are too precious to be wasted on "almost" vacations.